Excess-speed alarm



Nov. 3 1925 v 1,559,872

F. M. HILLS ET AL.'

EXCESS SPEED ALARM Filed March 14, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet l .e z-ymmmmmlu@ Mm F. M. HILLS ET AL EXCESS SPEED ALARM Nov. -3 1925- Filed March 14. 1922 s sheets-sheet 2 ador. up,

Nov. 3', 1925. v 1,559,872

F. M. HILLS El' AL EXCE-SS-SPEED ALARM Filed Max-@ 14, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED M. HILLS AND JENNINGS G. AMBROSE, OF `SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA; SAID HILLS ASSIGNOR TO SAID AMBROSE.

EXCESS-SPEED ALARM.

Application filed March 14, 1922.

To all Lv/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that we, FRED M. HILLS and JnNNiNcs G. AMnRosE, citizens of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego, State of California, have invented a new and useful Excess-Speed Alarm, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide simple means whereby a signal may be given vwhen an automobile attains a predetermined speed, the device being adapted to be operated, preferably, but not necessarily in connection with the shaft which runs the speedometer, the general purpose of the structure being to give an admonishing signal to the driver of a car, which will permit him to govern his acts in accordance with the speed regulations of the locality in which he happens to be.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in View, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, with in the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2 of Figure 5;v Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 of Figure 5; Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Figure 5; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5 5 of Figure 1, parts remaining in elevation; Figure 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a fragmental transverse section showing a modification; Figure 8 is a longitudinal section showing a modified form of the invention; Figure 9 isa sectional detail; Figure 10 is a section on the line 10 1O of Figure 8, the line 9 9 in Figure 10 indicating the plane on which Figure 9 is taken.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a support or casing 1 including a bodyv 2, lid being mounted on the body,

Serial No. 543,738.

and being held thereon by securing elements 4. The body 2 is provided in one end with a seat 5, carrying a race 6, supporting balls 7. A seat 8 is threaded or mounted otherwise in the lid 8 and is provided with a race 9, coacting with balls 10. A main shaft 11 extends through the seat 5 and through the seat 8 and is equipped with a cone bearing 12 cooperating with the balls, the bearing being held in place by a securing element 14. A, cone bearing 15 is attached to the shaft 11 and coacts with the balls 7. The shaft 11, thus, is held in the casing 1 for rotation, but, against longitudinal movement therein.

A slide or carrier 16, which may `be in the form of a bar, having a rectangular cross section is mounted for adjustable reciprocation on the shaft 11 and is provided in its lower end with a slot 17, receiving a projection or pin 18 extending from the shaft 11, the construction being such that although the slide 16 may be adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 11, the slide, nevertheless, will be held on the shaft, for rotation therewith. Adjacent to its lower end, the slide 16 is supplied with flangesv19. An eccentric 20 operates between the flanges 19 of the slide 16 and is secured to a shaft 22, an abutment collar 23 being attached at 24 to the shaft 22. The shaft 22 is journaled in a bearing 25 projecting inwardly from the body 2 of the casing 1, the collar 23 cooperating with the inner end of the bearing 25. A turning head 26 is secured to the outer end of the shaft 22 and has an index 27 adapted to cooperate with a dial 28 inscribed on the end of a boss 29 projecting outwardly from the body 2 of the casing 1. A compression spring 30 surrounds a portion of the shaft 22, one end of the spring abutting against the turning head 26, and the other end of the spring abutting against the boss 29, to hold the collar 23 in abutment with the inner end of the bearing 25. The abutment collar 23 has a frictional hold on the bearing 25, of sufficient strength so that the shaft 22 will not rotate accidentally, it being possible, however to impart rotation to the shaft 22 through the instrumentality of the turning head 26.

Inverted T-shaped side plates 31 are mounted .on the slide 16. At the upper ends of the side plates 31, guides 32, in the form of angle pieces, are located. Securing elements 335 pass" through thei'gui'depieces 32 and through the side" plates 31,--thesecuring elements entering the slide 16 and-serving to hold "both lthefguides'` and f the 4'side plates n the slide. Shafts 34fare'mounted to rock in the side plates 31 and are disposed on opposite sides of the slide 16, as

shown in Figure 3. Inner arms 35 are pro-V vided and are adapted-to 'frestagainst the slide16, the arms 35 being located between the side plates 31" and being 'provided with hubs'36 'extendedbe'tween the side plates and `-secured "tothe shafts '34. Adjacent to theirfupperfe'nds, the 'inner 'arms 35v 'carry lateral`A projections 38; in the "fornrof'pins .i hooked at `40 around the end of one shaft 34,

thespring stripf'being'looped at 41 'around the other shfaft "34 'andffterrn'inating in a hook 42 engagedover the!adj'acent'eiternal arm L37. -Retractile helical l'sp'ring's "43' are provided, eachfspring 43- being connected 'at one end 'toonebffthe shafts 34, and being co'i'rnected, at'its other end f to the adj acent arm'l 37 on "the',"otli`jer' V s`h"af ""34.

Outwardly' eXtended Jguide studs "44 `proweights :451sfaref"m'o'un'tedcv to' slide' inwardly and outwaridly', 'in a `:direction substantially at 'right angles totheanis 'ofthe 'main shaft 11. "'Each'weight 45`has a; depending portion 47 "located "behind "the corresponding pinor Aprojection 33 of the' 'inner arm 35,

45 having slots Z18ifadaptedntoreceive the arms 35,' as shown'bestl Figure 2, Figure 5 b'ei'ng'n'ote'd at ztl'iis'poi'nt.

ContactYm-embers', jinl vv,the forni of .rods 49 l are' mounted to slideinthe guide pieces 32 andl constitute signal actuators, the inner ends "ljof f-t-he contacu'inembersf49 being mounted' 'pii'f'otally' inthe 'external arms Y37,

adjacent :to Vthe freefinn'er ends "thereof, terminal isclarrjied bythe lid3 'and '1t is p with this' 'terminal' thatfthe contact members 49 cooperate. 'y The terminal'maybe 'in thel formof an annular "track 50 having a boss 52. A" securing elei'nent'53" is' carried by the lid 3, awasher "54jlbeing mounted on' the securing` element. Thesecuring-element v53 passes*I through" an; insulating bushing v55 in the lid 3 andengagesthe hubyor boss'Q ron the track 50, the track thus (beingheld on the lidl 3 inisu'ch a"positionthat the-'contact f Iine'nibers l* 49 dmay I cooperate V@with the track, undercircumstances which-will? vv`be pointed/but hereinafter. e' A 'connector-v 56 surrounds the securing' element 53 and is held by the washer 54 in contact with one end of the insulating bushing 55, the connector 46 beingadapted to retain an electrical conductor 57.

The lower end of the shaft 11 is adapt-ed -to lbe connected to the cable which operates a speedometer, the upper end of the shaft bei-ng adapted to be .connected to the speedometer.

In practical operation, when rotation is imparted'to 'the shaftA 11, rotation will'be impartedto/the slide 16, the slide being connected tothe shaft by way of the projection or -pin 18. vAst-he speed Abuilds up, the weightsV 45""inove outwardly, in opposite 'directions,=motion being transmitted to the Ainner arms 35 through the instrumentality of'the'projections or pins 38. As the arms 35"'s'wiiig` outwardly, the shafts 34 are rocked, the contact members 49 are raised, because they are connected pivotally with Athe external 'arms 37, the contact members 49 engaging the track 50 whereupon, the circuit including the conductor 57, `grounded, and a signal (notshown) located in the vcircuit of which the conductor 57 constitutes a part, is sounded. There is yan advantage in providing two of the'contact members, since, if one of them should prove inoperative, the otherwill still exercise its function and Yground the signal circuit. When the external 'arms 37 swing upwardly, the spring strips 39 are first put under tension, and, then, as a 'maximum speed is approached, the helical springs 43 lareexpanded and put under tension.

LRotation'may'be imparted' to the shaft by' waynf the turning head 26, the 'finger ;or index X27 cooperating with'the dial 28, ltofindicate. the'speed at which it is -desired that thel signal shall sound. lillhen theshaft 22 isrotated, vt-he'eccentric 20, cooperating "with the uppermost aluge 19, raises the 'slide 16 onthe-shaft 1'1,the eccentric operating between the lflanges 19. When the slide 16 is raised, the 'upperends vof the con- Atact members 49 lare caused to vapproach the "track 50,"by` adjustment, before the said con- -tact -m'einbersvv are operated through the instrumentality :ofthe weights 45'and coacting arts. The structure,therefore, may beset so thatthe vsignalwill sound, at any predetermin'edispeed of travelin the vehicle.

. Although the device has-been described as l operatingelectrically, it may operate otherwise.V Thus, in Figure 7,' parts hereinbefore 4described vhave been designed by numerals Vpreviously used with the suffix a. ln the modification, the track 50n has tvfo or more vbosses 52a connected byl aV corresponding number of securing elements 53a with the lid 3a. The track 59a has slot 53wh'erein operates a curved lever59, the lever being fulcruined at one end,'as at 60 on the track, the

loo

lilo

of the siOnal actuator 49 and when the signal actuator is raised, as hereinbefore described into contact with the track 50a, the lever 59 will be tilted on its fulcrum, thereby to cause the rod G2 to operate a signal, which may be a mechanical signal, as distinguished from the electrical signal which it is proposed to use in connection with that form of the invention which is depicted in Figure o of the drawings.

Referring to the modified form delineated in Figures 8, 9 and l0, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals previously used, with thesuffix b. The lianges 19 of Figure 5 are removed from the carrier 1Gb and the carrier is attached by a securing element 18b to the shaft 1lb.

The numeral denotes a track including an upper flange 71 and a lower ilange 72. The screw 531 has a stem 73 l assing through the upper flange 7l of the track 70. An insulating bushing 74 is located in the track T0 and receives the shaft il. The shaft 11b rotates in the bushing 74 of the track 70, the track being held against rotation, through the instrumentality of the stem 73, it being possible for the track 70 to slide on the stem 73 and on the shaft 11b, longitudinally of the shaft. An eccentric 75, preferably made of insulating material operates between the flanges 7l and Z2 of the track TO and is carried by the shaft .76 journaled in the body 2b of the support or casing l". At its outer end, the shaft 76 is supplied with a turning head 7.7 carrying an index 79 adapted to cooperate with a dial 80. A spring 78; corresponding to the spring 39 is provided and exercises the functions of the spring 30.

ln Figure 5 of the dra-wings, the slide or carrier 1G is adjustable longitudinally7 of the shaft ll, the track 50 being fixed, whereas, in Figure S, the carrier 16h is secured atlSb to the shaft 1lb, the track 70 being adjusted longitudinally of the shaft 1lb; through the instrumentalityY of the eccentric and the turning head 77.

lVhat is claimed is l.L in a device of the class described, a support; a shaft journaled in the support; cooperating elements comprising a track, and a carrier connected to the shaft to rotate therewith, one of said cooperating elements being adjustable longitudinally7 of the shaft; means under the control of an operator for adjusting said one of the cooperating elements longitudinally of the shaft; a centrifugal governor mechanism mounted on the carrier; and sig-nal actuator connected to the governor mechanism and coacting with the track.

2. ln a device of the class described, a support; a. main shaft journaled in the support; cooperating elements comprising a track, and a carrier connected to the shaft to rotate elements being adjustable longitudinally of the shaft, and being provided with flanges; a secondshaftjournaled in the support and under the control of an operator, the second shaft having an eccentric operating between the flanges; a centrifugal governor mechanism mounted on the carrier; and a signal actuator connected to the governor mechanism and cooperating with the track.

3. In a device of the class described, a support; a main shaft `iournaled in the support; cooperating elements comprising a track, and a carrier connected to the shaft to rotate therewith; one of said cooperating` elements being adjustable longitudinally of the shaft; a second shaft journaled in the support and under the. control of an operator; means for effecting an operative connection between the second shaft and said one ef the cooperating elements to adjust the same longitudinally of the main shaft; a dial; an index carried by the second shaft and cooperating with the dial; a centrifugal governor mechanism mounted on the carrier; and a signal actuator connected with the governor mechanism and cooperating with the track.

ll. A. device of the class described comprising a support; a shaft journaled in the support; a carrier connected to the shaft to rotate therewith; a transverse shaft supported for rocking movement in the carrier and having arms; a signal actuator connected to one arm; a weight mounted to reciprocate on the carrier and coacting with the other arm; and spring means for resisting the rocking movement of the transverse shaft responsive to the action of the weight.

5. In a device of the class described, a support; a main shaft journaled in the support; a carrier connecter. to the main shaft to rotate therewith; transverse shafts supported for rocking movement on the carrier; inner arms carried by the transverse shafts; signal actuators connected to the inner arms; outer arms mounted on the transverse shafts; spring members engaged around the shafts and engaged with the outer arms; lesprii 's connecting retracri each of the outer a ms with one of the transverse shafts; and weights moinited for reciprocation on the carrier and cooperating with the inner arms.

G. In a device of the class described7 a support; a main shaft journaled in the support; a carrier mounted on the main shaft therewith, one of said cooperating for. rotation therewith; a.It-ransverse'shaftV u movement-0th 1 theA shaft responsive. to the Weigh@ =and -avsi-gnalf-actuator connected- Wth t said .other-arm.

supportecl'for rocking movement on-"thefcarrer arms carreclfloy ythe transverse shaft g a guide projecting laterally from the-carrier; aWeight mounted-for reciprocation on theguicle and coacting Wthone of thefarms to 'impart' rocking` :movement to rthe `transverse shat't; `spring means connectedA with the'other'ot eaicl larmste resist the rocking movement ot' the shaft'fresponsive to lthe Weight; and a signal actuator connected Withy said yother arm.

7. In avdevce of theclass described7V a support,A a'main shaft i ournaled Iin saidl support, a Vcarrier mounted onthe shaft forrotation therewitlny f'transverse "shafts supportecl for rocking'movement` fonfthe carrier,v

arms carried'by 'said shatt .anrlextencling to- Ward eachother,y a laterally extendingguide onthe carrier, Weights mounted for re'eipro cation onthe guider anclcoacting with said arms-'to impart vrocking'movement to the transverse shafts, l'spring vmeans connected nfs-559372 With-.onenoff said iarms-to'resist the rocking L8.: 'In arlevice'ofa-theaslass described,v a supried by said carrier; an eccentriclocate-cl` between saidtlangea a rkshaftsecured to said eccentric andv extending laterally and prof viclecl'vith turn-ing; fmeans for actuating it whereby theA f carrier :may -he fmovecl on the shaft,k a 'centrifugalgovernor vmechanism a mounted .on fthe :carmen-and a--1sgnal= actuator Vconnected-5to .the governor mechanism. In testimony thatv we clarin ftheforegong as ourrown, :weffhavehhereto 'a'ixed .our-"signatures.

ERED:.M. fHlLLS. .,lE-NNINGS G5 AMB-ROSE. 

